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Expert Q & A Top : Safety : What kind of things can parents do to keep children safe in urban areas?

by Diana Jones Safety Expert

Question:

What kind of things can parents do to keep children safe in urban areas?

Answer:

Whether you live in the city or the country, instructing children on how to practice good "stranger" safety is basically the same. While the city adds the stress of being a chaotic environment, it is also helpful to remember that there are always people around walking on the streets, in businesses, and driving on the roadways; unlike in the suburbs where children often have to walk to and from somewhere on quiet, country roads. City families should definitely take advantage of the busy environment when devising safety plans.

Keeping this in mind, here are some of the basic rules that urban families should incorporate into their safety strategies:

• Children should be instructed to avoid desolate alley ways, cut-throughs, and unfrequented locations within buildings.
• When going to and from places, there should be set routes determined ahead of time with parents and not strayed from by children unless permission has been granted first.
• Parents and children should walk these routes together and identify safe haven locations (fire stations, post offices, stores) where children should go if they feel threatened in anyway. And safety strategies should be formed for how to make the best use of these safety locations (if you have not passed 74th street, and you're scared go back to school. If you are passed 74th street, go to the fire house.)
• When at all possible, children should rely on the buddy system when traveling to and from somewhere -- staying in a group is always a safer bet. They should always have change in their pocket, a prepaid calling card or cell phone to use in case of an emergency.
• Children should be reminded that calling 911 is always the best option and always free even from a pay phone.
• In the case of buildings without doormen, children should be told never to enter the building if they sense that something is wrong inside or that they may be followed inside by someone they are unsure about. They should also avoid entering elevators under the same circumstances.
• Children need to be informed about the concept of a "safe stranger," someone who can lend an immediate hand if they feel threatened and wait with them until help arrives. However, this is not someone that they should leave and go somewhere with. Examples of "safe strangers" in their neighborhoods should be found. People like doormen, store clerks, etc., make good choices.
• Parents with young children should institute a "hand-holding" policy or an "always within sight policy" with their children so children are never too far away.
• Plans should also be devised for what to do if families become separated. With young children, finding a counter or cash register within a store and asking the person behind it for help is an effective way of dealing with this. Children should be told never to leave and go anywhere with the person, and these locations should be pointed out to young children often to make sure they understand what to do.